Maharashtra organises first conclave for transgenders

More than 3,000 members of the state’s transgender community attended the first conclave organised by the state government at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre at Nariman Point on Thursday, where chief minister Prithviraj Chavan assured social and political rights to the community.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, while inaugurating the conclave, said, “The state government is with the community in its struggle to find its own identity and lead a dignified life and all steps will be taken to recognise the community.’’

The community had placed a memorandum of demands before the chief minister asking for inclusion and basic rights.

The conclave was held in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme.

“We do not have any social security and no social identity, as most of us do not even have identity proof. We are not even counted in the census,” said Urmi Jadhav, who heads an organisation Kinari Kasturi in Wadala.

“We have demanded that all district collectors include the community members in the census, so that we get an identity and a right to vote,” she said.

After hearing out the community’s complaints against the police, Chavan assured them that the police would be sensitised about the community.

Some other demands included right for a transgender to contest elections and facilities such as schooling, health and identity cards.